Shield for agricultural implements.



No. 893,767. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

, 1W. VOLKMOR, SHIELD FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS;

APPLICATION FILED AUG, 20, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHIELD FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Application filed August 20, 1906. Serial No. 331,300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VoLKMoR,

citizen of the United States, residing at Whittier, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Shields for Agricultural Implements, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to shield from injury the boughs oforange trees and other low hanging trees when cultivators and likeimplements are used among them. To this end I employ flexible shieldscurving downward in front, free to yield in front and unsupported at therear, so that they may yield readily to the boughs, deflecting themwithout injury.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view partlysectioned, of a double-gang disk cultivator or harrow embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same from frontto rear on the irregular line 22 Fig. 3 represents a perspective viewfrom the inner side of the forward part of one of the shield sectionsand of the outer bar of the frame broken away; Fig. 4 represents a viewsimilar to Fig. 3, but showing the proximate parts of both bars of theframe.

A designates the seat of the cultivator; B, the beam supporting it and Cthe draft truck attached ivotally to the forward end of said beam andcarried by wheels D.

The rigid frame of the cultivator is com posed of two bars E and F, bentinto oblong closed curves, one inside of the other, their ends beingbrought against the sides of the beam and bolted thereto at e and frespectively.

G designates the rotary cutting disks, which are mounted as usual in twogangs, one on each side of the beam at a convenient interval.

H designates the two shields or shield sections of flexible resilientsheet metal, arranged over the two gangs of disks and the parts of theframe in front of them. The inner edge and outer egde of each disk areat right angles to the rear edge but the front of each shield sectioninclines outwardly and rearwardly from the point nearest the beam B andis bent downward with the convex curvature at I.

Each shield section is supported by a raised staple-form bracket J onthe bar E of the frame, being riveted thereto through edge to the outerend of a bifurcated horizontal bracket J, on the outer frame bar F. Saidbrackets are securely bolted to the said bars.

The convex front part I of the shield section between its two points ofattachments is capable of yielding to the fruit and bars when struckthereby and its obliquity will divert them outward as they ride up overits inclined and curved face, so that the shock of contact is reduced tothe minimum. As there is no support for, nor attachment of, the shieldsections in rear of the bar E the weight of the boughs laden with fruitwill depress the rear parts of the said shield-sections, bending them ina gentle curve beyond the disks G, so that the said boughs and fruit mayslide easily off behind the cultivator and suffer no injury from thefall. The resiliency of the metal will restore the shield section to itsformer position when thus relieved. The

- same is true of the convex oblique front part I when the boughs ceaseto press thereon. It will be seen that both the front and the top of theframe are prevented from contact with the boughs.

The term cultivator is used herein to mean any form of implement drawnalong the ground and provided with means for cutting breaking, stirring,or weeding the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a cultivator frame and cutters attached thereto ashield cover ing said teeth and a part of said frame, extending down infront of said frame and at the rear beyond the said cutters, the rearpart of said shield being flexible, unsupported and free to yield underdownward pressure sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a cultivator frame and shaft and two gangs ofcutters attached to said frame on opposite sides of said shaft,

a pair of shield sections, each covering one of .holes and is alsoattached near its, lower said gangs and the proximate arts of the Intestimony whereof I affix my signature,

, frame and extending down in ront of said in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

frame, the rear part of each shield section be- WILLIAM VOLKMOR ingflexible, extended beyond the said cut- 5 ters and left unsupported inorder that it Witnesses:

may yield to downward pressure substan- J. C. SANCHEZ, tially as and forthepurpose set forth. A. O. MAPLE.

